Sheila Shanklin has been appointed director of Lay Speaking Ministries for the Orangeburg district.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT AN ANNUAL REPORT MUST BE COMPLETED EACH YEAR BY LAY SPEAKERS.  We have a number of lay speakers who are on inactive status because an Annual Report was not completed for 2007.  Please speak to your pastor and complete an Annual Report.

Mrs. Luretha Thomas from Claflin UMC has been recognized as a Lay Speaker Emeritus.  Certified lay speakers, who are no longer able to serve beyond their local church due to health reasons, can be recognized as lay speaker emeritus.  We appreciate Mrs. Thomas’ years of commitment and service as a certified lay speaker.

Local Church Lay Speaker Refresher Course training is planned for four weekends in 2009.  Utilizing a Saturday-Sunday format at four different locations in the district will give local church lay speakers numerous opportunities to take the five-hour course.  Local church lay speakers will be expected to take the refresher course within three years after taking the Basic Course.  Local church lay speakers, who have not taken the course, will receive additional information by January 31, 2009.    

Certified lay speakers must take an advanced course every three years to remain a certified lay speaker.  There are some courses that can be taken in lieu of an advanced course.  For more information, please contact Gregg Riley.

LAY SPEAKERS SERVE WHEREVER CALLED.  Lay speakers lead Bible studies, teach Sunday School, work with church youth, go on mission trips, fill pulpits as needed, are active in UMW and UMM, sing in church choirs, serve in prison ministry, and are involved in local missions.  Lay speakers love the Lord and serve Him wherever needed.

Dates for 2009 are as follows:

July 27…………………Lay Speaking Committee Meeting

August 15……...………Instructor Academy at Ashland UMC in Columbia

September 19 & 20……Local Church Lay Speaker Refresher Course Training

October 11, 18, & 25.....Fall Lay Speaker Training

December 5 & 6……….Local Church Lay Speaker Refresher Course Training

If you have questions or need additional information on Lay Speaking Ministries in the Orangeburg District, please contact:

  Sheila Shanklin
Director of Lay Speaking Ministries
256 Plantation Estates Road
Gaston, SC 29053
(803) 794-8671